CAMPFIRE AND BURNING RESTRICTIONS EASED

Recent rain has decreased fire danger in parts of northern Minnesota, allowing state and federal officials to ease some campfire restrictions. While campfires will be allowed starting Wednesday in Voyageurs National Park, they remain prohibited in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA). The U.S. Forest Service will allow campfires in designated fire grates in developed campgrounds in Superior National Forest, but not elsewhere. The agency also re-opened the Kekekabic Trail.

Meanwhile, the Department of Natural Resources has lifted burning restrictions throughout the southern and central part of the state, but restrictions remain in much of north-central and northeastern Minnesota.

CRAPPIE WINNERS

Gary Dubois of Woodbury won the first-ever Hayward Crappie Contest Saturday, landing a fish that weighed 1.71 pounds -- good enough to earn him $3,500 in winnings. The top youth angler was Jon Aderman of Hayward, who landed a 1.11-pound crappie and received $2,000. Jon also had the third-biggest fish in the youth division, winning another $500. The contest was put on by the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame Museum in Hayward.

DOUG SMITH